Adj Assoc Prof Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive, MN Health

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year for 2023. For many the festive period is a wonderful time to catch up with our family and friends and have a well-earned break. I also want to acknowledge those who worked over this time, continuing to provide the best of care to our patients – thank you for your dedication.

I had the opportunity to work as part of our Food Services Team during the December/January period. Collecting meal trays with other members of Metro North Senior Executive and moving cutlery was an interesting experience. I would also like to acknowledge and thank all of our staff who are volunteering across our directorates during this time. Patients were able to enjoy Christmas favourites such as turkey, ham, plum pudding, gingerbread, rum balls, and candy canes, to name a few treats!

Level Up mentoring

Metro North Health is committed to improving gender equality in medical professions and we are launching, Level Up, Doctors in Training Mentoring Program. We are seeking senior doctors to share their knowledge, ideas and thoughts and to support the next generation of medical specialists and leaders. Mentoring not only benefits the mentee but also the mentor who can gain fresh perspectives and the opportunity to reflect upon and articulate their role to others. The time commitment to be a mentor is approximately one hour a month, for over six months. If you would like to be part of the Doctors in Training Mentoring Program, sign up here.

If you require more information you can read the criteria here, or email becca.murray@health.qld.gov.au with any questions

Virtual Courageous Conversation

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team has partnered with the Courageous Conversation South Pacific Institute™ (CCSPI) to deliver Virtual Courageous Conversation: The Experience™ (VCC) for staff within Metro North Health. VCC provides staff with a set of tools to talk about race, intentionally and effectively. I highly recommend the training and encourage line managers to consider approving their staff to attend. Metro North is 100% committed to improving our staff cultural understanding, respect and capability.  Expressions of interest for the January training close on January 16. To register for the VCC please complete the EOI form: https://bit.ly/3hmQhFM.

Exciting developments in 2023

The year 2023 is an exciting year for Metro North with the new Clinical Services Building and multi-storey car park due to open as part of the Caboolture Hospital redevelopment. In addition, our satellite hospital sites at Caboolture, Kallangur and Bribie Island are progressing as part of our commitment to delivering quality frontline services to the communities close to where people live, avoiding acute care in our acute Hospitals where we can safely do so. Our Redcliffe Hospital ED upgrade is also taking shape and will soon provide new and improved facilities for our patients in this area.

We have stood up the Metro North ieMR working group and will see the plans to roll out our Electronic Medical Record over the next few years.

Our Health Equity Implementation and action plan has been endorsed and this will be every one’s business from now on.

Another first for Metro North will be moving to whole of Health Service Short Notice Accreditation.

Kristal Lowe, our Chief People and Culture Officer, will be turning her mind to consulting on the development of a strategic workforce reform roadmap. This will include further actions to improve staff wellbeing and equip our people  with skills and support in the workplace and beyond as well as reimagining our workforce to meet the growth we expect to see over the next 10 years.

MN32 refresh update

Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback and contributed towards our refreshed MN32. We remain committed to our ambitious goals and looking forward to sharing the final outputs with everyone.

Finally, I ask that we all reflect on our Metro North values in action and remind ourselves why we have them and why we all need to model them.

I look forward to working with you all in 2023, continuing to strive for Metro North to be the biggest, best and kindest Health Service

Jackie